U.S. patent application number 14/125434 was filed with the patent office on 2015-01-29 for receiving apparatus, reception method, transmitting apparatus, transmission method, and program.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Yoshiharu Dewa.
Application Number | 20150033252 14/125434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49383407 |
Filed Date | 2015-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150033252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dewa; Yoshiharu |
January 29, 2015 |
RECEIVING APPARATUS, RECEPTION METHOD, TRANSMITTING APPARATUS,
TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND PROGRAM
Abstract
The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus, a
reception method, a transmitting apparatus, a transmission method,
and a program that enable management information of an application
program to be transmitted without changing existing facilities. An
AIT acquiring unit acquires AIT information to control an operation
of an application program executed in linkage with data
broadcasting content, which is described in a meta element of a BML
document of the data broadcasting content transmitted by a
broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting, and an HTML browser unit
controls an operation of a linked application distributed through
the Internet, on the basis of the AIT information acquired by the
AIT acquiring unit. The present invention can be applied to a
television receiver that receives the broadcasting wave of the
digital broadcasting.
Inventors: |
Dewa; Yoshiharu; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sony Corporation |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
49383407 |
Appl. No.: |
14/125434 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
April 9, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/060734 |
371 Date: |
December 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
725/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/8543 20130101;
H04N 21/435 20130101; H04H 60/13 20130101; H04N 21/64322 20130101;
H04N 21/8173 20130101; H04N 21/6547 20130101; H04N 21/2353
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/32 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/81 20060101
H04N021/81; H04N 21/435 20060101 H04N021/435; H04N 21/643 20060101
H04N021/643; H04N 21/235 20060101 H04N021/235 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 19, 2012 |
JP |
2012-095854 |
Claims
1. A receiving apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives
broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital
broadcasting; an acquiring unit that acquires application
management information to control an operation of an application
program executed in linkage with broadcasting content, which is
described in an area to describe any information in a markup
language describing the data broadcasting content transmitted by
the broadcasting wave; and a control unit that controls the
operation of the application program, according to the acquired
application management information.
2. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
application management information is information in which a life
cycle of the application program is defined.
3. The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
application management information is described in an area that
does not affect an operation of the data broadcasting content.
4. The receiving apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the markup
language is Broadcast Markup Language (BML), and the application
management information is described in a meta element of a BML
document to be first provided.
5. The receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
application management information is information that is obtained
by equivalently converting the information in which the life cycle
of the application program specified in advance is defined.
6. The receiving apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the
application management information is information that is obtained
by converting Extensible Markup Language-Application Information
Table (XML-AIT), which is obtained by expressing AIT specified by
Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) with XML, according to a
predetermined rule.
7. The receiving apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
application program is distributed through the Internet.
8. A reception method of a receiving apparatus, the method
comprising: a step of causing the receiving apparatus to receive
broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital
broadcasting; a step of causing the receiving apparatus to acquire
application management information to control an operation of an
application program executed in linkage with data broadcasting
content, which is described in an area to describe any information
in a markup language describing the data broadcasting content
transmitted by the broadcasting wave; and a step of causing the
receiving apparatus to control the operation of the application
program, according to the acquired application management
information.
9. A program for causing a computer to function as: a receiving
unit that receives broadcasting content transmitted by a
broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting; an acquiring unit that
acquires application management information to control an operation
of an application program executed in linkage with broadcasting
content, which is described in an area to describe any information
in a markup language describing the data broadcasting content
transmitted by the broadcasting wave; and a control unit that
controls the operation of the application program, according to the
acquired application management information.
10. A transmitting apparatus comprising: a transmitting unit that
transmits broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave
of digital broadcasting; and a generating unit that generates
application management information to control an operation of an
application program executed in linkage with data broadcasting
content, which is described in an area to describe any information
in a markup language describing the data broadcasting content
transmitted by the broadcasting wave, wherein the transmitting unit
transmits the data broadcasting content transmitted by the
broadcasting wave.
11. A transmission method of a transmitting apparatus, the method
comprising: a step of causing the transmitting apparatus to
transmit broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of
digital broadcasting; a step of causing the transmitting apparatus
to generate application management information to control an
operation of an application program executed in linkage with data
broadcasting content, which is described in an area to describe any
information in a markup language describing the data broadcasting
content transmitted by the broadcasting wave; and a step of causing
the transmitting apparatus to transmit the data broadcasting
content transmitted by the broadcasting wave.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a receiving apparatus, a
reception method, a transmitting apparatus, a transmission method,
and a program and more particularly, to a receiving apparatus, a
reception method, a transmitting apparatus, a transmission method,
and a program that enable management information of an application
program to be transmitted without changing existing facilities.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] AIT (Application Information Table) has been known as an
interactive application management broadcasting signal established
by European digital broadcasting standardization organization (DVB:
Digital Video Broadcasting) (for example, refer to Patent
Literature 1).
[0003] All of MHEG (Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group), MHP
(Multimedia Home Platform), and HbbTV (Hybrid broadcast broadband
TV) to be European data broadcasting services control an operation
such as a start or an end of an application program that operates
in linkage with broadcasting content by the AIT.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0004] Patent Literature 1: JP2011-66556A
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] A signal of the AIT is overlapped to a broadcasting wave and
is transmitted. However, in countries such as Japan and the United
States that adopt the digital broadcasting standard not performing
transmission of the AIT under present circumstances, there are
demands for managing the application program using the AIT.
[0006] However, in a broadcasting system that does not perform
transmission of the AIT, because overlapping the signal of the AIT
to the broadcasting wave leads to a change in existing facilities,
an introducing cost increases. For this reason, it is necessary to
take measures to transmit the AIT without changing a transmitter or
a receiver in the existing broadcasting system.
[0007] As a method not to change the existing transmitter, a method
of transmitting the AIT converted with an XML format on the basis
of the DVB standard (ETSI TS 102 809) as one file, using a data
carousel transmission method in data broadcasting, has been
suggested. However, if this method is used, the existing receiver
that has been already sold may cause malfunction.
[0008] As such, under present circumstances, a technical method to
transmit the AIT without changing the existing facilities is not
established.
[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above
circumstances and enables management information of an application
program to be transmitted without changing existing facilities.
Solution to Problem
[0010] According to a first embodiment of the present technology,
there is provided a receiving apparatus including a receiving unit
that receives broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting
wave of digital broadcasting, an acquiring unit that acquires
application management information to control an operation of an
application program executed in linkage with data broadcasting
content, which is described in an area to describe any information
in a markup language describing the data broadcasting content
transmitted by the broadcasting wave, and a control unit that
controls the operation of the application program, according to the
acquired application management information.
[0011] The application management information is information in
which a life cycle of the application program is defined.
[0012] The application management information is described in an
area that does not affect an operation of the data broadcasting
content.
[0013] The markup language is BML (Broadcast Markup Language), and
the application management information is described in a meta
element of a BML document to be first provided.
[0014] The application management information is information that
is obtained by equivalently converting the information in which the
life cycle of the application program specified in advance is
defined.
[0015] The application management information is information that
is obtained by converting XML-AIT, which is obtained by expressing
AIT (Application Information Table) specified by DVB (Digital Video
Broadcasting) with XML (Extensible Markup Language), according to a
predetermined rule.
[0016] The application program is distributed through the
Internet.
[0017] The receiving apparatus may be an independent apparatus and
may be an internal block configuring one apparatus.
[0018] A reception method or a program according to the first
aspect of the present invention is a reception method or a program
that corresponds to the receiving apparatus according to the first
aspect of the present invention described above.
[0019] A reception apparatus, a reception method, and a program
according to the first aspect of the present invention receive
broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital
broadcasting, acquire application management information to control
an operation of an application program executed in linkage with
data broadcasting content, which is described in an area to
describe any information in a markup language describing the data
broadcasting content transmitted by the broadcasting wave, and
control the operation of the application program, according to the
acquired application management information.
[0020] A transmitting apparatus according to a second aspect of the
present invention includes a transmitting unit that transmits
broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital
broadcasting and a generating unit that generates application
management information to control an operation of an application
program executed in linkage with data broadcasting content, which
is described in an area to describe any information in a markup
language describing the data broadcasting content transmitted by
the broadcasting wave. The transmitting unit transmits the data
broadcasting content transmitted by the broadcasting wave.
[0021] The transmitting apparatus may be an independent apparatus
and may be an internal block configuring one apparatus.
[0022] A transmission method according to the second aspect of the
present invention is a transmission method that corresponds to the
transmitting apparatus according to the second aspect of the
present invention described above.
[0023] A transmitting apparatus and a transmission method according
to the second aspect of the present invention transmit broadcasting
content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting,
generate application management information to control an operation
of an application program executed in linkage with data
broadcasting content, which is described in an area to describe any
information in a markup language describing the data broadcasting
content transmitted by the broadcasting wave, and transmit the data
broadcasting content transmitted by the broadcasting wave.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0024] According to the first and second aspects of the present
invention, management information of an application program can be
transmitted without changing existing facilities.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a meta element in an HTML
document.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notation of
a visibility descriptor in XML-AIT.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notation of
a meta element in a simply type.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notation of
a MhpVersion descriptor in XML-AIT.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notation of
a meta element in a first complex type.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a description example of a
StorageCapabilities descriptor in XML-AIT.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notation of
a meta element in a second complex type.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a description example of
XML-AIT.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a description example of
AIT information.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an
embodiment of a broadcasting system to which the present invention
is applied.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an
embodiment of a receiving apparatus to which the present invention
is applied.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a linked application
control process.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a description example of
AIT information.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of
a computer.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the appended
drawings. Note that, in this specification and the drawings,
elements that have substantially the same function and structure
are denoted with the same reference signs, and repeated explanation
is omitted.
[Outline of Present Invention]
[0040] In the specifications of HbbTV of Europe and ATSC2.0
(Advanced Television Systems Committee 2.0) of the United States in
addition to BML (Broadcast Markup Language) used by data
broadcasting of Japan, a data structure of an HTML (HyperText
Markup Language) system is adopted for the realization of an
interactive function. In this data structure, there is an area
where any metadata called a meta element can be described.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a meta element is described in a
head element of an HTML document. In the meta element, a name
attribute and a content attribute are described. A name of a
property is designated in the name attribute and a value of the
property is designated in the content attribute.
[0042] That is, because a value of the name attribute is not
specified, the value of the name attribute can be designated as any
value, by combining the name attribute and the content attribute.
In an example of FIG. 1, "HTML", "CSS", and "XML" are designated as
keywords.
[0043] When AIT is expressed by XML (Extensible Markup Language)
according to the specification of ETSI TS 102 809 to be the
standard of DVB, as an XML schema, it is expressed by a simple type
or a complex type. The expression of the AIT with the XML is called
XML-AIT.
[0044] Here, the simple type (simpleType) means a simple type of
not including an attribute or a child element such as a character
string or a numerical value. In addition, the complex type
(complexType) means a type of including a child element in content
of an attribute or an element.
[0045] In addition, a complex type in which there is an attribute
element and a complex type in which there is no attribute element
exist in complex types. Hereinafter, of the complex types, the
complex type in which there is no attribute element is called a
first complex type and the complex type in which there is an
attribute element is called a second complex type.
[0046] That is, the XML-AIT is expressed by any type of the simple
type, the first complex type, and the second complex type.
Hereinafter, how to express the XML-AIT by the meta element
according to each type will be described.
(1. Simply Type)
[0047] First, the simple type will be described with reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates a notation of a Visibility descriptor in
XML-AIT, which is specified in ETSI TS 102 809. The corresponding
notation is described in "5.2.6.3 XML encoding" of ETSI TS 102
809.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the case of the Visibility
descriptor, "VisibilityDescriptor" is designated as a name
attribute of a simpleType element. In addition, "NOT_VISIBLE_ALL",
"NOT_VISIBLE_USERS", and "VISIBLE_ALL" are designated as values of
enumeration elements.
[0050] The notation of FIG. 2 can be expressed by the meta element
by performing conversion according to a conversion rule of the
simple type to be described later.
(Conversion Rule of Simple Type)
[0051] (1) An element name (in an example of FIG. 2,
"VisibilityDescriptor") of the XML-AIT is defined by adding a
prefix such as "AIT:" to a name attribute of the meta element.
However, "AIT:" is an example of the prefix and other character
string can be added. (2) A value of the XML-AIT is designated in
the content attribute of the meta element.
[0052] That is, if the notation of FIG. 2 is converted according to
the conversion rule of the simple type, for example, as illustrated
in FIG. 3, in the meta element, "AIT: VisibilityDescriptor" is
designated in a name attribute and "VISIBLE_ALL" is designated in a
content attribute.
[0053] As such, the XML-AIT that is expressed by the simple type
can be expressed by the meta element.
(2. First Complex Type)
[0054] Next, the first complex type will be described with
reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0055] FIG. 4 illustrates a notation of a MhpVersion descriptor in
XML-AIT, which is specified in ETSI TS 102 809. The corresponding
notation is described in "5.2.5.3 XML encoding" of ETSI TS 102
809.
[0056] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the case of the MhpVersion
descriptor, "MhpVersion" is designated as a name attribute of a
complexType element. In addition, "profile", "versionMaj or",
"versionMinor", and "versionMicro" are designated in name
attributes of elements and "ipi:Hexadecimal16 bit",
"ipi:Hexadecimal8 bit", "ipi:Hexadecimal8 bit", and
"ipi:Hexadecimal8 bit" are designated as values of type
attributes.
[0057] The notation of FIG. 4 can be expressed by the meta element
by performing conversion according to a conversion rule of the
first complex type to be described later.
(Conversion Rule of First Complex Type)
[0058] (1) An element name (in an example of FIG. 4, "MhpVersion")
of the XML-AIT is defined by adding a prefix such as "AIT:" to a
name attribute of a meta element. However, "AIT:" is an example of
the prefix and other character string can be added. In addition,
because the content attribute is null, this row is not generated.
(2) However, as an exception of (1), the case (for example,
"Application") in which the same element name repetitively appears
is handled as a separator by describing a content attribute =" ".
(3) In this case, the content attribute of the meta element is made
to become null. This is because the content attribute becomes
essential in the meta element. (4) The name attributes specified in
the element of the XML-AIT is enumerated in the name attribute of
the meta element by adding a period to an element name of the
XML-AIT. However, the period is an example and a comma, an
underbar, a hyphen, or other delimiters can be used. (5) A value of
the type attribute specified in the element of the XML-AIT is
allocated to the content attribute of the meta element.
[0059] That is, if the notation of FIG. 4 is converted according to
the conversion rule of the first complex type, for example, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, in the meta element, when
"AIT:MhpVersion.profile" is designated in the name attribute,
"FFFF" is designated in the content attribute thereof and when
"AIT:MhpVersion.versionMajor" is designated in the name attribute,
"FF" is designated in the content attribute thereof. In addition,
when "AIT:MhpVersion.versionMinor" is designated in the name
attribute, "FF" is designated in the content attribute thereof and
when "AIT:MhpVersion.versionMicro" is designated in the name
attribute, "FF" is designated in the content attribute thereof.
[0060] As such, the XML-AIT that is expressed by the first complex
type can be expressed by the meta element.
(3. Second Complex Type)
[0061] Finally, the second complex type will be described with
reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates a notation of a StorageCapabilities
descriptor in XML-AIT, which is specified in ETSI TS 102 809. The
corresponding notation is described in "5.2.11.3 XML encoding" of
ETSI TS 102 809.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the case of the
StorageCapabilities descriptor, "StorageCapabilities" is designated
as a name attribute of a complexType element. In addition,
"storageProperty", "is Storable", and "canCache" are designated in
name attributes of elements and "mhp.StorageType", "xsd:boolean",
and "xsd:boolean" are designated as values of type attributes.
[0064] In addition, "launchableFromBroadcast",
"launchableCompletelyFromCache", and "launchableWithOlderVersion"
are designated in name attributes of attribute elements and
"xsd:boolean", "xsd:boolean", and "xsd:boolean" are designated as
values of type attributes.
[0065] The notation of FIG. 6 can be expressed by the meta element
by performing conversion according to a conversion rule of the
second complex type to be described later.
(Conversion Rule of Second Complex Type)
[0066] (1) An element name (in an example of FIG. 6,
"StorageCapabilities") of the XML-AIT is defined by adding a prefix
such as "AIT:" to a name attribute of a meta element. However,
"AIT:" is an example of the prefix and other character string can
be added. (2) The name attribute specified in the attribute of the
XML-AIT is divided by a comma and is enumerated in the name
attribute of the meta element. However, instead of the comma, other
delimiters can be used. In addition, a value of the attribute is
expressed by a predetermined symbol such as "=". (3) The name
attribute specified in the element of the XML-AIT is enumerated in
the name attribute of the meta element, by adding a period to an
element name of the XML-AIT. However, instead of the period, other
delimiters can be used. (4) The value of the type attribute
specified in the element of the XML-AIT is allocated to the content
attribute of the meta element.
[0067] That is, if the notation of FIG. 6 is converted according to
the conversion rule of the second complex type, for example, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, in the meta element, when
"AIT:StorageCapabilities" is designated in the name attribute,
"launchableFromBroadcast=false,launchableCompletelyFromCache=true,launcha-
ble WithOlderVersion=true" are designated in the content attribute
thereof.
[0068] In addition, when "AIT: StorageCapabilities.storageProperty"
is designated in the name attribute, "BROADCAST-RELATED" is
designated in the content attribute thereof. In addition, when
"AIT: StorageCapabilities.isStorable" is designated in the name
attribute, "true" is designated in the content attribute thereof.
In addition, when "AIT: StorageCapabilities.canCache" is designated
in the name attribute, "true" is designated in the content
attribute thereof.
[0069] As such, the XML-AIT that is expressed by the second complex
type can be expressed by the meta element.
[0070] As described above, the XML-AIT is converted according to a
predetermined conversion rule according to each type, so that the
corresponding XML-AIT can be expressed by the meta element. For
example, the XML-AIT of FIG. 8 is expressed by the meta element, as
illustrated in FIG. 9, by applying the conversion rule. In the case
of this example, a control command to be "AUTOSTART" is designated
in a linked application identified by an ID to be "1" and a control
command to be "PRESENT" is designated in a linked application
identified by an ID to be "2".
[0071] Here, the linked application is an application program that
is executed in linkage with broadcasting content such as a
television program and is distributed by a predetermined server
connected to the Internet. For example, the linked application is
composed of an HTML document such as HTML5 (Hyper Text Markup
Language 5).
[0072] In addition, "AUTOSTART", "PRESENT", "KILL", and "PREFETCH"
are designated as control commands. The "AUTOSTART" is a command
that causes a receiver to automatically execute a linked
application immediately. Meanwhile, "PRESENT" is a command that
shows whether the linked application can be executed, when the
linked application is not automatically executed and the linked
application is executed at any timing according to an external
request.
[0073] The "KILL" is a command that causes the receiver to end the
execution of the linked application. In addition, the "PREFETCH" is
a command that causes the linked application to be acquired in
advance.
[0074] In addition, if the transmitter can generate content
(hereinafter, referred to as AIT information) of a meta element
corresponding to the XML-AIT and transmit the content, the receiver
that has received the content can control an operation of the
linked application in linkage with broadcasting content, according
to the AIT information.
[0075] For example, in Japan, BML is adopted as a markup language
describing data broadcasting content. However, the AIT information
can be embedded in a meta element in a head element of a startup
document (Startup.bml). That is, the AIT information is included in
the startup document transmitted as existing data broadcasting by
the data carousel transmission method.
[0076] Thereby, the receiver extracts a character string of which a
name attribute starts from "AIT:" among the meta elements included
in the startup document and extracts AIT information therefrom.
Because a version of a BML document such as the startup document is
managed according to the data carousel transmission method, when
content of the AIT information is updated, version information of a
module is updated, so that the receiver can detect a change in the
content of the AIT information. In this case, the content of the
AIT information is rewritten and updated according to the updated
startup document. In addition, because the frequency of
transmitting the startup document is high, the transmitter can
securely transmit the AIT information to the receiver.
[0077] Meanwhile, the receiver controls the operation of the linked
application, according to the control command obtained from the AIT
information.
[0078] In the receiver, when a BML browser to display data
broadcasting content performs syntax analysis of the BML document,
the BML browser skips meta elements in which content of name
attributes cannot be understood among the meta elements, without
analyzing the meta elements. For this reason, even though the AIT
information is described in the meta element, data broadcasting
content can be displayed without being affected by the AIT
information.
[0079] In addition, the conversion rules described above are
exemplary. Other conversion rules that can perform semantically
equivalent conversion may be used.
[0080] The outline of the present invention has been described.
[Specific Configuration]
[0081] Next, a specific configuration to realize the present
invention will be described.
(Configuration Example of Broadcasting System)
[0082] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an
embodiment of a broadcasting system to which the present invention
is applied.
[0083] A broadcasting system 1 includes a broadcasting apparatus
10, a receiving apparatus 20, and an application server 30. In
addition, the receiving apparatus 20 and the application server 30
are mutually connected through the Internet 40.
[0084] The broadcasting apparatus 10 is configured to transmit a
broadcasting signal of broadcasting content such as a television
program or a CM by a broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting.
[0085] The receiving apparatus 20 receives a broadcasting signal
transmitted from the broadcasting apparatus 10 by the broadcasting
wave of the digital broadcasting and acquires video and audio of
broadcasting content. The receiving apparatus 20 outputs the
acquired video to a display and outputs the audio to a speaker.
[0086] The receiving apparatus 20 may exist as a single body and
may be embedded in a television receiver or a video recorder. In
addition, the detailed configuration of the receiving apparatus 20
will be described below with reference to FIG. 11.
[0087] In addition, the broadcasting apparatus 10 generates AIT
information to control an operation of the linked application,
includes the AIT information in the broadcasting signal, and
transmits the broadcasting signal.
[0088] The AIT information is obtained by converting the XML-AIT
according to a predetermined conversion rule. In addition, the AIT
information is described in the startup document of the data
broadcasting content and is transmitted by the broadcasting wave of
the digital broadcasting by the data carousel transmission method.
That is, the data carousel transmission method is a transmission
method used for the data broadcasting. However, the data carousel
transmission method is also used to transmit the AIT
information.
[0089] In the AIT information, information such as a control
command to control the operation of the linked application is
described. For example, in the AIT information, a URL (Uniform
Resource Locator) of the application server 30 is described as
information of an acquisition destination of the linked
application.
[0090] The receiving apparatus 20 acquires the linked application
set to be automatically executed immediately, on the basis of the
AIT information, and executes the linked application. At this time,
the receiving apparatus 20 has access to the application server 30
through the Internet 40, according to the URL described in the AIT
information, and acquires the linked application.
[0091] The application server 30 manages the linked application.
The application server 30 is provided by a broadcaster who
broadcasts broadcasting content by the broadcasting apparatus
10.
[0092] The application server 30 distributes the managed linked
application to the receiving apparatus 20 through the Internet 40,
according to an inquiry from the receiving apparatus 20.
[0093] The broadcasting system 1 is configured as described
above.
(Configuration Example of Receiving Apparatus)
[0094] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an
embodiment of a receiving apparatus to which the present invention
is applied.
[0095] The receiving apparatus 20 includes a control unit 100, a
storage unit 101, an input unit 102, a tuner 103, a demultiplexer
104, a decoding unit 105, a video output unit 106, an audio output
unit 107, a section processing unit 108, an AIT acquiring unit 109,
an HTML browser unit 110, a BML browser unit 111, a storage unit
112, and a communication unit 113.
[0096] The control unit 100 controls an operation of an individual
unit of the receiving apparatus 20. The storage unit 101 stores
various data according to control from the control unit 100.
[0097] The input unit 102 is composed of, for example, a light
receiving unit to receive infrared rays. The input unit 102
receives a manipulation of a remote controller by a user and
supplies a manipulation signal according to the manipulation to the
control unit 100. The control unit 100 controls the operation of
the individual unit of the receiving apparatus 20, according to the
manipulation signal supplied from the input unit 102.
[0098] The tuner 103 extracts a digital broadcasting signal of a
channel selection instructed channel from the received digital
broadcasting signal, demodulates the digital broadcasting signal,
and supplies a transport stream obtained as a result thereof to the
demultiplexer 104.
[0099] The demultiplexer 104 separates the transport stream
supplied from the tuner 103 into a video stream, an audio stream,
and section data. The demultiplexer 104 supplies the video stream
and the audio stream to the decoding unit 105. In addition, the
demultiplexer 104 supplies the section data to the section
processing unit 108.
[0100] The decoding unit 105 decodes the video stream supplied from
the demultiplexer 104 and supplies a video signal obtained as a
result thereof to the video output unit 106. The video output unit
106 outputs the video signal corresponding to the video of the
broadcasting content supplied from the decoding unit 105 to an
external display (not illustrated in the drawings).
[0101] In addition, the decoding unit 105 decodes the audio stream
supplied from the demultiplexer 104 and supplies an audio signal
obtained as a result thereof to the audio output unit 107. The
audio output unit 107 outputs the audio signal corresponding to the
audio of the broadcasting content supplied from the decoding unit
105 to an external speaker (not illustrated in the drawings).
[0102] The section processing unit 108 executes various processes
for section data supplied from the demultiplexer 104. For example,
the section processing unit 108 performs section filtering for a
DSM-CC (Digital Storage Media-Command and Control) section
transmitted by the data carousel transmission method, among the
section data supplied from the demultiplexer 104. In addition, the
section processing unit 108 executes an analysis process of DII
(Download Info Indication) and DDB (Download Data Block) obtained
as a result thereof.
[0103] In addition, the section processing unit 108 supplies data
such as image data or a BML document included in the DDB to be
obtained as a result of the analysis process of the DII and the DDB
to the AIT acquiring unit 109 in a module unit.
[0104] The AIT acquiring unit 109 acquires a startup document, on
the basis of the data of the module unit supplied from the section
processing unit 108. When there is a character string of which a
name attribute starts from "AIT:" among meta elements included in
the startup document, the AIT acquiring unit 109 extracts AIT
information therefrom. The AIT acquiring unit 109 generates an AIT
database that stores information obtained from the extracted AIT
information. The AIT information that is stored in the AIT database
is supplied to the HTML browser unit 110. The AIT database is
stored in the storage unit 101 and is appropriately read.
[0105] The HTML browser unit 110 executes the HTML browser stored
in the storage unit 112, on the basis of the AIT information
supplied from the AIT acquiring unit 109, and controls the
operation of the linked application read from the storage unit 112.
The HTML browser unit 110 generates a video signal of the linked
application and supplies the video signal to the video output unit
106. The video output unit 106 outputs a video signal corresponding
to the video in which the linked application is overlapped to the
broadcasting content, to the external display.
[0106] In addition, the AIT acquiring unit 109 supplies the data of
the module unit supplied from the section processing unit 108 to
the BML browser unit 111.
[0107] The BML browser unit 111 executes the BML browser stored in
the storage unit 112, on the basis of the data of the module unit
supplied from the AIT acquiring unit 109, generates the video
signal of the data broadcasting content, and supplies the video
signal to the video output unit 106. The video output unit 106
outputs the video signal corresponding to the video in which the
data broadcasting content is overlapped to the broadcasting
content, to the external display.
[0108] The communication unit 113 has access to the application
server 30 through the Internet 40, according to control from the
HTML browser unit 110, and requests for the linked application. The
communication unit 113 receives the linked application distributed
from the application server 30 and stores the linked application by
the storage unit 112.
[0109] In the configuration example of FIG. 11, the video signal
and the audio signal are output to the outside. However, when the
receiving apparatus 20 is configured as the television receiver,
such signals are supplied to the embedded display and speaker.
[0110] The receiving apparatus 20 is configured as described
above.
(Linked Application Control Process)
[0111] Next, a linked application control process will be described
with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 12.
[0112] In step S101, the control unit 100 acquires a PMT from the
stream separated by the demultiplexer 104. Here, the PMT (Program
Map Table) stores each PID (Packet ID) such as video or audio
included in a certain program.
[0113] In step S102, the control unit 100 determines whether an
elementary stream component for data broadcasting exists in the
stream separated by the demultiplexer 104, on the basis of the
acquired PMT. When it is determined in step S102 that the
elementary stream component for the data broadcasting exists, the
process proceeds to step S103.
[0114] In step S103, the AIT acquiring unit 109 acquires the
startup document (Startup.bml), from the data transmitted in the
module unit.
[0115] In step S104, the AIT acquiring unit 109 performs the syntax
analysis of the acquired startup document.
[0116] In step S105, the AIT acquiring unit 109 acquires a meta
element described in the startup document, according to a result of
the syntax analysis.
[0117] In step S106, the AIT acquiring unit 109 determines whether
a character string starting from "AIT:" exists in a name attribute
of the acquired meta element. When it is determined in step S106
that the corresponding character string exists, the process
proceeds to step S107.
[0118] In step S107, the AIT acquiring unit 109 generates the AIT
database storing the information acquired from the AIT information,
on the basis of the character string following "AIT:" and the value
of the content attribute.
[0119] In step S108, the HTML browser unit 110 determines whether
the linked application in which AUTOSTART is enabled exists,
according to the control command stored in the AIT database. When
it is determined in step S108 that the linked application in which
AUTOSTART is enabled exists, the process proceeds to step S109.
[0120] In step S109, the HTML browser unit 110 starts the linked
application in which AUTOSTART is enabled. Thereby, video in which
the linked application is overlapped to the television program is
displayed on the display. As such, the receiving apparatus 20 can
perform an operation in which the XML-AIT seems to be transmitted
from the broadcasting apparatus 10, by generating the AIT
database.
[0121] In step S109, if the linked application starts, the process
returns to step S101 and the following processes are repeated. In
addition, when it is determined in step S108 that the linked
application in which AUTOSTART is enabled does not exist, the
linked application to be started immediately does not exist. For
this reason, the process returns to step S101 and the following
processes are repeated.
[0122] When it is determined in step S102 that the elementary
stream component for the data broadcasting exists, the data
broadcasting of the corresponding broadcasting content is not
performed and the data broadcasting content and the linked
application do not start. For this reason, the linked application
control process ends. In this case, only the video such as the
television program is displayed on the display.
[0123] In addition, when it is determined in step S106 that the
character string starting from "AIT:" does not exist in the name
attribute of the meta element, the process proceeds to step S110.
In step S110, the HTML browser unit 110 determines whether the
linked application has started.
[0124] When it is determined in step S110 that the linked
application has started, the process returns to step S101 and the
following processes are repeated. That is, when the linked
application has started, the AIT information for the corresponding
linked application is further transmitted. In addition, when the
version information of the module transmitted by the data carousel
transmission method is updated and the content of the AIT
information is changed, the AIT database according to the content
of the AIT information is generated and the operation of the linked
application is controlled.
[0125] In addition, when it is determined in step S110 that the
linked application has not started, the linked application does not
start and thus, the linked application control process ends. In
this case, video in which data broadcasting information such as a
weather forecast is overlapped to a television program is displayed
on the display. For example, the receivers may correspond to only
the existing data broadcasting and may not correspond to the linked
application. In the case of these receivers, normal data
broadcasting content starts by the above process.
[0126] The linked application control process has been
described.
[0127] The case in which AUTOSTART is designated as the control
command has been described. However, when other control command
such as PRESENT or KILL is designated, the receiving apparatus 20
executes the linked application control process according to the
control command. For example, in the case in which a certain
program ends and a next program starts, when it is desired to end a
linked application for the previous program and start a linked
application for the next program, the meta element illustrated in
FIG. 13 is described as the AIT information in the startup document
and is transmitted by the data carousel transmission method.
[0128] In FIG. 13, KILL is designated as a control command for a
linked application identified by an ID to be "1", which is
described in an area of "1st application". In addition, AUTOSTART
is designated as a control command for a linked application
identified by an ID to be "2", which is described in an area of
"2nd application".
[0129] In the receiving apparatus 20, when the startup document in
which the meta element is described is acquired, the AIT database
is generated on the basis of the AIT information described in the
meta element of FIG. 13, by the AIT acquiring unit 109. In
addition, according to the control command stored in the
corresponding AIT database, the HTML browser unit 110 ends the
linked application for the previous program and starts the linked
application for the next program.
[0130] As described above, in the present invention, the
transmitter embeds the AIT information in the meta element of the
BML document for the startup and transmits the information using
the existing data broadcasting, so that the receiver can extract
the AIT information and control the operation of the linked
application according to the AIT information. Thereby, in the
broadcasting system, the AIT information to control the linked
application can be transmitted without changing the existing
facilities.
[0131] The AIT information has been described as the application
management information to manage a life cycle of the linked
application. The present invention is not limited thereto and other
application management information may be used.
[Configuration Example of Computer to which Present Technology is
Applied]
[0132] The series of processes described above can be executed by
hardware but can also be executed by software. When the series of
processes is executed by software, a program that constructs such
software is installed into a computer. Here, the expression
"computer" includes a computer in which dedicated hardware is
incorporated and a general-purpose personal computer or the like
that is capable of executing various functions when various
programs are installed.
[0133] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration
example of a computer that performs the above-described series of
processing using a program.
[0134] In the computer 200, a central processing unit (CPU) 201, a
read only memory (ROM) 202 and a random access memory (RAM) 203 are
mutually connected by a bus 204.
[0135] An input/output interface 205 is also connected to the bus
204. An input unit 206, an output unit 207, a storage unit 208, a
communication unit 209, and a drive 210 are connected to the
input/output interface 205.
[0136] The input unit 206 is configured from a keyboard, a mouse, a
microphone or the like. The output unit 207 is configured from a
display, a speaker or the like. The storage unit 208 is configured
from a hard disk, a non-volatile memory or the like. The
communication unit 209 is configured from a network interface or
the like. The drive 210 drives a removable media 211 such as a
magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a
semiconductor memory or the like.
[0137] In the computer 200 configured as described above, the CPU
201 loads a program that is stored, for example, in the storage
unit 208 onto the RAM 203 via the input/output interface 205 and
the bus 204, and executes the program. Thus, the above-described
series of processing is performed.
[0138] Programs to be executed by the computer 200 (the CPU 201)
are provided being recorded in the removable media 211 which is a
packaged media or the like. Also, programs may be provided via a
wired or wireless transmission medium, such as a local area
network, the Internet or digital satellite broadcasting.
[0139] In the computer 200, by inserting the removable media 211
into the drive 210, the program can be installed in the storage
unit 908 via the input/output interface 205. Further, the program
can be received by the communication unit 209 via a wired or
wireless transmission media and installed in the storage unit 908.
Moreover, the program can be installed in advance in the ROM 202 or
the storage unit 908.
[0140] It should be noted that the program executed by a computer
200 may be a program that is processed in time series according to
the sequence described in this specification or a program that is
processed in parallel or at necessary timing such as upon
calling.
[0141] A processing step herein for describing a program which
causes the computer 200 to perform various processing does not
necessarily have to be processed chronologically in the order
described in a flow chart. It also includes processing performed in
parallel or individually (for example, parallel processing or
processing by an object).
[0142] The program may be processed by one computer (processor) or
by a plurality of computers in a distributed manner. Further, the
program may be performed after being transferred to a remote
computer.
[0143] Further, in the present disclosure, a system has the meaning
of a set of a plurality of configured elements (such as an
apparatus or a module (part)), and does not take into account
whether or not all the configured elements are in the same casing.
Therefore, the system may be either a plurality of apparatuses,
stored in separate casings and connected through a network, or a
plurality of modules within a single casing.
[0144] The embodiment of the present technology is not limited to
the above-described embodiment. It should be understood by those
skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations,
sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design
requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope
of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
[0145] For example, the present disclosure can adopt a
configuration of cloud computing which processes by allocating and
connecting one function by a plurality of apparatuses through a
network.
[0146] Further, each step described by the above mentioned flow
charts can be executed by one apparatus or by allocating a
plurality of apparatuses.
[0147] In addition, in the case where a plurality of processes is
included in one step, the plurality of processes included in this
one step can be executed by one apparatus or by allocating a
plurality of apparatuses.
[0148] Additionally, the present technology may also be configured
as below.
[0149] (1)
[0150] A receiving apparatus including:
[0151] a receiving unit that receives broadcasting content
transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting;
[0152] an acquiring unit that acquires application management
information to control an operation of an application program
executed in linkage with broadcasting content, which is described
in an area to describe any information in a markup language
describing the data broadcasting content transmitted by the
broadcasting wave; and
[0153] a control unit that controls the operation of the
application program, according to the acquired application
management information.
[0154] (2)
[0155] The receiving apparatus according to (1),
[0156] wherein the application management information is
information in which a life cycle of the application program is
defined.
[0157] (3)
[0158] The receiving apparatus according to (1) or (2),
[0159] wherein the application management information is described
in an area that does not affect an operation of the data
broadcasting content.
[0160] (4)
[0161] The receiving apparatus according to (3),
[0162] wherein the markup language is Broadcast Markup Language
(BML), and
[0163] the application management information is described in a
meta element of a BML document to be first provided.
[0164] (5)
[0165] The receiving apparatus according to any one of (1) to
(4),
[0166] wherein the application management information is
information that is obtained by equivalently converting the
information in which the life cycle of the application program
specified in advance is defined.
[0167] (6)
[0168] The receiving apparatus according to (5),
[0169] wherein the application management information is
information that is obtained by converting Extensible Markup
Language-Application Information Table (XML-AIT), which is obtained
by expressing AIT specified by Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB)
with XML, according to a predetermined rule.
[0170] (7)
[0171] The receiving apparatus according to any one of (1) to
(6),
[0172] wherein the application program is distributed through the
Internet.
[0173] (8)
[0174] A reception method of a receiving apparatus, the method
including:
[0175] a step of causing the receiving apparatus to receive
broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital
broadcasting;
[0176] a step of causing the receiving apparatus to acquire
application management information to control an operation of an
application program executed in linkage with data broadcasting
content, which is described in an area to describe any information
in a markup language describing the data broadcasting content
transmitted by the broadcasting wave; and
[0177] a step of causing the receiving apparatus to control the
operation of the application program, according to the acquired
application management information.
[0178] (9)
[0179] A program for causing a computer to function as:
[0180] a receiving unit that receives broadcasting content
transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting;
[0181] an acquiring unit that acquires application management
information to control an operation of an application program
executed in linkage with broadcasting content, which is described
in an area to describe any information in a markup language
describing the data broadcasting content transmitted by the
broadcasting wave; and
[0182] a control unit that controls the operation of the
application program, according to the acquired application
management information.
[0183] (10)
[0184] A transmitting apparatus including:
[0185] a transmitting unit that transmits broadcasting content
transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital broadcasting; and
[0186] a generating unit that generates application management
information to control an operation of an application program
executed in linkage with data broadcasting content, which is
described in an area to describe any information in a markup
language describing the data broadcasting content transmitted by
the broadcasting wave,
[0187] wherein the transmitting unit transmits the data
broadcasting content transmitted by the broadcasting wave.
[0188] (11)
[0189] A transmission method of a transmitting apparatus, the
method including:
[0190] a step of causing the transmitting apparatus to transmit
broadcasting content transmitted by a broadcasting wave of digital
broadcasting;
[0191] a step of causing the transmitting apparatus to generate
application management information to control an operation of an
application program executed in linkage with data broadcasting
content, which is described in an area to describe any information
in a markup language describing the data broadcasting content
transmitted by the broadcasting wave; and
[0192] a step of causing the transmitting apparatus to transmit the
data broadcasting content transmitted by the broadcasting wave.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0193] 1 Broadcasting system [0194] 10 Broadcasting apparatus
[0195] 20 Receiving apparatus [0196] 30 Application server [0197]
40 Internet [0198] 100 Control unit [0199] 101 Storage unit [0200]
103 Tuner [0201] 109 AIT acquiring unit [0202] 110 HTML browser
unit [0203] 111 BML browser unit [0204] 112 Storage unit [0205] 113
Communication unit [0206] 200 Computer [0207] 201 CPU
* * * * *